Micron Pours Billions into US Research Lab Amid Global Competition
Micron Technology has announced plans to invest around $10 billion in its 'Micron Research Lab' over the next decade, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as memory, compute architecture, packaging, and manufacturing. The lab will be located at Micron's headquarters in Boise, Idaho.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, marking Micron's first independent R&D institution dedicated to fundamental research. This investment is separate from the company's previously announced $250 billion commitment to manufacturing capacity investments in Clay, New York, and Boise, Idaho.
The Trump administration has praised the move, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stating that it will solidify the U.S. leadership position in semiconductors and cutting-edge high-tech fields. Apple CEO Tim Cook also expressed support for the lab, saying it will carry forward Micron's R&D legacy and drive breakthrough transformations in global memory and computing over the coming decades.
Apple's shift in supporting Micron's domestic R&D initiative is notable, as the company had previously lobbied the White House to source DRAM from Chinese memory chipmaker CXMT. However, it was explicitly rejected by the Trump administration, indicating that Apple has accepted the reality of 'U.S. memory' as a long-term supply solution and is betting on Micron's next-generation technology roadmap.